U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Slide 1 Our Mission: “Working with others to conserve, protect, and...
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Transcript of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Slide 1 Our Mission: “Working with others to conserve, protect, and...
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 1
Our Mission:
“Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people.”
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 2
Goals for today: Proposals to protect Sierra amphibians
1. Describe what’s proposed
2. Discuss the timeline and opportunities for public involvement
3. Identify the types of information we need and how you can participate
4. Answer your questions
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 3
Listing/Critical Habitat Process Petition or proposal to list
FWS solicits information -- best available scientific and commercial information
12-month finding; if warranted:
Proposal to List Proposal to designate Critical Habitat Solicit public comment Revise proposals
Publish final Listing and Critical Habitat Rules
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 4
History2000: Petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Rivers Council to list the Sierra Nevada population of the mountain yellow-legged frog and Yosemite toad as endangered and designate critical habitat.
2002: Found listing warranted but precluded. Species placed on the candidate list.
2008: Mountain yellow-legged frogs in the northern Sierra were established as a separate species from the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog.
2011: FWS enters into global settlement to address listing backlog for over 200 species, including Sierra amphibians.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 5
April 24, 2013 – Two Proposed Rules:
To add three amphibians to the Endangered Species List
• Yosemite toad
• Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog
• Northern population of mountain yellow-legged frog
To designate Critical Habitat to promote their recovery
• 1,831,820 acres across 17 counties
• Mostly on federal land
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 6
• Historically abundant across much of the higher elevations within the Sierra Nevada.
• Currently restricted to publicly managed lands at high elevations.
• Threats: - Habitat degradation and
fragmentation- predation and disease- changes in temperature and
precipitation- inadequate regulatory protections
• Recreation is not considered a threat.
Sierra yellow-legged frog and northern population of mountain yellow-legged frog
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 7
• Found at high elevations (5-12,000 ft) from Alpine County to Fresno County.
• Mainly on Federal land.
• Population declines throughout its range.
• Threats: habitat degradation and loss due to conifer encroachment and grazing.
• Recreation is not considered a threat.
Yosemite toad
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 8
Endangered Any species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Definitions
Yosemite Toad
Mountain yellow-legged frog
Critical habitat
Threatened Any species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
Critical Habitat Specific geographic areas with physical and biological features essential to the conservation of a listed species.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 9
Species Proposed Listing
Proposed Critical Habitat
Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog
Endangered 1,105,400 acres
Northern DPS of the mountain yellow-legged frog
Endangered 221,498 acres
Yosemite toad Threatened 750,926 acres
Total with overlapping acres: 1,831,820 – mostly on federal lands.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 10
Species Proposed Critical Habitat byCounty
Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Mono, Madera, Tuolumne, Fresno, Inyo
Northern DPS of the mountain yellow-legged frog
Tulare, Fresno
Yosemite toad Alpine, Mariposa, Mono, Tuolumne, Fresno, Inyo, Madera
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 11
The actions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat do not close or restrict access to public lands.
The designation of critical habitat alerts the public and federal agencies to areas and features that are important for the recovery of the species.
Proposed Critical Habitat for 3 Sierra Amphibians
If critical habitat remains functional, and threats to the species are relieved, the species has a chance to recover.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 12
Economic Analysis• The Endangered Species Act requires that critical habitat is designated
based upon the best scientific and commercial data available, after taking into consideration the economic impact, impact on national security, or any other relevant impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat.
• The intent of the draft economic analysis is to identify and analyze the potential economic impacts associated with the proposed critical habitat designation for the species.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 13
Apr 24, 2013: Two proposed rules to list and designate critical habitat
Apr 24 – Jun 24, 2013: First public comment period: 60 days
Jul 18 – Nov 18, 2013: Second public comment period: 120 days
Late Fall 2013: USFWS will make available to the public a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat rule.
Third public comment period (60 days)
Two public meetings
Public hearing
Timeline
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 14
Timeline
Winter/Spring 2014
Review all public comments received during the public comment periods
Review and address the expert opinions of independent scientific experts
Apr 24, 2014: Publication of final rules
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 15
Requested Information1. Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threats (or lack thereof)
to these species, and regulations that may be addressing those threats.
2. Additional information concerning the historical and current status, range, distribution, and population size of these species.
3. Any information on the biological or ecological requirements of these species, and ongoing conservation measures for these species and their habitats.
4. The factors that are the basis for making a listing determination for a species under section 4(a) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which are:
• The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range;
• Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes;
• Disease or predation;
• The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
• Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.
5. The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as critical habitat for these species.
For a more complete list of requested information, please visit www.fws.gov/sacramento
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 16
How to Submit Comments:Comments can be submitted online at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
The Docket Number for the proposed listing rule is FWS–R8–ES–2012–0100 and for the proposed critical habitat rule is FWS–R8–ES–2012–0074.
Comments can also be sent by U.S. mail to:
Public Comments Processing
FWS–R8–ES–2012–0100 or FWS–R8–ES–2012–0074
Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM
Arlington, VA 22203
Verbal comments will be recorded during a public hearing, scheduled for the fall. Written comments can be accepted during any of the public comment periods.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Slide 17
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation.
• For more information on these proposals, please visit www.fws.gov/sacramento/newsroom.htm
• For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov/cno
• Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/usfwspacificsouthwest
• Follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSPacSWest
• Watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws; and
• Download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/.